Computer Information Series No. 2

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To complete your computer system purchase, you’ll need to choose the right printer for your needs. Since there is such a wide variety to choose from with prices ranging from $120 to $6,000 we need to look at what each one is, and how much it costs to operate and maintain.

Dot-Matrix Printers

These printers print using a series of dots. There are 9-pin and 24-pin dot matrix printers. A 9-pin will print 9 dots per inch on your paper. Naturally, a 24-pin is going to make your printout have more detail and clarity because there are more dots printed per inch of space. The price difference is not that much, so get the 24-pin.

Dot-matrix printers don’t cost much to maintain. They use a printer ribbon similar to a typewriter ribbon at an average cost of $12 each. The ribbon has about the same life as a typewriter ribbon, so you be the judge as to how long they’ll last you.

A dot matrix printer is a perfect investment if you plan to use your computer for mailing lists and occasional writing of letters. There is also a software program you can buy called “Emulaser” that will make your dot matrix printer think it’s a laser printer. The print-out will almost be of the same professional quality but your printer will print much slower. (Emulaser is not recommended for older computers with a 8086 or similar processor. A minimum of a 286 or 386-based computer system is recommended.)

Daisy Wheel Printers

Don’t get stuck with one of these. Remember the old IBM Selectric typewriters that used a wheel to type a character instead of a typewriter key? This is what a daisy wheel printer uses. You can NEVER print a photograph or picture and it’s not too great at drawing lines and boxes either. Besides, you can get a dot matrix printer for a much lower price and print anything you want to!

Inkjet and Bubblejet Printers

Both of these printers use a WET ink to print onto the paper. There is no danger in smearing because the ink dries instantaneously - however, if the printed page draws moisture or something is spilled on it, you could have a few problems and have to print the page again.

Although they are not costly to maintain, if you have a mail order business the chances of ink smearing during the mailing process is greater. Therefore, inkjet and bubblejet printers should not be used - especially for printing labels to apply to the outside of the envelope.

Laser Printers

If you plan to do more with your computer than maintain mailing lists, keep records and write occasional letters; you will want to seriously look at purchasing a laser printer. A laser printer hardly ever wears out and is one of the best investments you can make if you’re in for the long haul.

A laser printer is like a minicomputer. It has a memory board in it and will accumulate an entire page in its memory banks BEFORE it prints the page. Just like making sure you have enough RAM in your computer to operate the software, you need enough RAM in your laser printer to print a page.

How much memory do you need? If all you wanted to print was a 1-page letter containing only words you could print it on a laser printer with 512K of memory. However, if you want to print that same letter with a graphic (cartoon, photograph, lines, boxes, etc.) you would need more memory in your printer. The “safe” amount to purchase would be 1MG but we highly recommend 4MG. This way, you won’t be in any trouble when you are trying to print something that takes up 2MG of memory and you only have 1MG on your printer. If this happens, the page will not print and your computer will tell you that you have run out of room!

Laser printers print with a DRY ink (similar to a high-speed copier). The ink comes in a cartridge and most cartridges will print 5,000 to 8,000 pages. Prices vary for purchasing cartridges but normal costs are $35 to $150 for a NEW printer cartridge. After you buy a NEW cartridge, you can have it refilled at 50% to 75% less than the price to purchase another NEW one. (Example: My HPIII cartridge would cost $120 new or $35 refilled.) This saves you money on future purchases and also helps our environment! (A good refill company for toner and office copiers is JHM Services, 21 Charette Hill, Fort Kent, ME 04743 or you can call and get a specific quote from Jim Majka at 207-834-2199.)

Have a great time!